Ballot-box



(N0 Model.)

s. T. BACON.

BALLOT BOX.

Patented Oct. 31, 1882.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEUBEN T. BACON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BALLOT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,744, dated October 31, 1882.

Application filed May 1, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEUBEN T. BACON, Boston, in the countyof Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefullmprovementin Ballot-Boxes, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

. This invention relates more particularly to that class of ballot-boxes in which a pair of feed-rollers are used to draw the ballots as they are voted into the box, and in which also marking devices supplied with ink from an inking-roller are employed to stamp or cancel each ballot as it is drawn into the box by the feed-rollers.

It consists,first, in combining with the shelves or partitions that separate the ballot-receptacle proper from the upper part of the box containing the working mechanism projecting fingers that enter grooves in the surface of the feedrollers, acting to prevent the ballots from adhering tosaid rollers and insuring their de-' posit in the proper receptacle; and, second, in the devices for holding back the ink-roller out of contact with the marking devices when for any reason this is desired.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, show the invention embodied in a ballot-box such as described in my application for patent filed August 15, 1881, and numbered 39,912.

Figure l is a plan view, partly in section, with the top of the box and the ballot-shelf removed in order the better to show the parts beneath; and Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same.

. The feed-rollers O D are located within the box, the space between them being in line with the inclined ballot-shelf E. On the shaft of the main or lower roller, O, are mounted marking wheels or disks 0, by which the ballots are stamped as they are drawn into the box, the said wheels being supplied with ink from inking-roller F. H is a crank, by which the rollers are operated; I, a knob for turning themarking-wheels to change their position relative to each other, and K a screw for clamping the marking-wheels 0 against the end of roller O. For a more particular description of these parts and their operation, reference may be had to my said former application.

(No model.)

A and B are shelves or partitions which separate the ballot-receptacle X, or that portion of the box in which the ballots are deposited, from the upper parts of the box. The shelf A extends from the side of the box so far that its edge almost touches the face of roller 1), and projecting from it are fingers a, which enter circular grooves in the face of roller D. Shelf B is similarly placed with reference to roller 0, and is likewise provided with fingers or projections b, entering grooves in said roller 0. Now, it is obvious that should a ballot, in being drawn into the box, for any cause adhere to one of the rollers and attempt to follow it around into the upper part of the box instead of dropping into its proper place, the fingers a or b would catch the end of the ballot, detach it from the roller, and cause it to remain in ballot-receptacle X. As shown, two fingers or projections are formed on each shelf; but any desired number may be employed. The shelves or partitions may be of wood or metal, as may be desired, and the fingers or projections may be formed in one piece therewith; or, as shown applied to shelf B, the fingers or projections b are formed on a metal strip, B, secured by screws or otherwise to the edge of the shelf. a

The inking-roller F is supported on a pivoted lever, G, and held normally in contact with marking-disks c by means of a spring, f, but is prevented by step f from comingin contact with, so as to soil, the roller 0. When itis desired to hold back roller F from contact with the marking-wheels 0, as when it is desired to spin the wheels 0 to change their relative position, lever G is drawn back, and is caught and held by the notched finger or catch g, engaging with the slot in piece g, secured to the back of lever G. The notched finger g is pivoted to a projection, g, fastened to the side of the box. To restore the roller the notched finger is pushed out of engagement with the slot, and the roller is returned by springf to its normal position.

Itis obviousthattheimprovements described can be applied to other forms of ballot-boxes than the one shown, and also that the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now fully described my said invention and the manner of carrying the same into eflect, What I claim is 1. In a ballot-box of the character described, the combination, with the feed-rollers having one or more annular grooves therein, of two shelves or partitions projecting from the sides of said box and dividing it into two compartments, said shelves or partitions being provided on their edges With projections or fingers which enter the grooves in said feed-rollers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. lhe combination, in a ballot-box, with the marking Wheels or devices, of the ink-roller supported on a lever, slotted piece connected With the lever, and notched finger or catch for engaging said slotted piece and holding the roller outof contact with said marking devices, substantially as described.

3. In a ballot-box, the combination of the marking-wheels, ink-roller, lever snppoiting said ink-roller, slotted piece on the lever of STEUBEN T. BACON.

Witnesses:

SIMON W. BAILEY, WM. H. BLAISD'ELL. 

